The Los Angeles Rams have several important games on the 2026 schedule, several of them involving NFC West foes. Fans know that matchups against the Seahawks and 49ers will be a blast, but there are plenty of exciting games outside of the division as well.
Here is a full ranking of the Rams’ non-divisional games on the upcoming schedule from #11-1:
11.) at Buccaneers (Week 17)
Last season, the Rams crushed the short-handed Buccaneers 34-7 on Sunday Night Football. Tampa Bay is nothing more than a mediocre NFC squad that won’t
have the luxury of playing in the league’s weakest division any longer.
Both the Saints and the reigning NFC South champion Panthers figure to improve after promising finishes to the 2025 campaign. Even the Falcons could make some noise and cause a few headaches along the way. The Bucs might again be in playoff contention by the time they play L.A. in 2026, but there’s very little intriguing about them outside of Baker Mayfield’s flashes and wondering why the hell Todd Bowles still has a job.
The only thing I have to say about this one is snore!
10.) vs. Giants (Week 2)
This matchup should be higher. After all, this is John Harbaugh’s first season taking over the G-Men since the Ravens canned him.
However, given that this game is so early in the year, New York will likely not be in tip-top form as they adjust to Harbaugh’s leadership. If this game were played after Week 10, this one would rank much higher on the list.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Giants have the worst odds to win the NFC East at +550. That’s fair, as they’re coming off two straight last place finishes. Harbaugh will eventually right the ship, but making this a Monday Night Football matchup so early in the year should qualify as cruel and unusual punishment for the young G-Men against an experienced Rams squad.
9.) at Commanders (Week 9)
Similar to the Giants game, this one should be higher.
Assuming Jayden Daniels can stay healthy and return to form, Washington will be improved, even if they don’t reach the NFC Championship high from a couple seasons ago. Daniels is one of the most exciting players in the sport, and appears to have a stronger roster around him to help Washington return to relevance.
But the ranking of this game is dependent on whether Daniels stays healthy and doesn’t experience the Robert Griffin III curse.
8.) at Raiders (Week 7)
Part of me wanted to put this one in the top five, but I backed down at the last second.
The reason I was so willing to do so was dependent on whether Fernando Mendoza would be playing at this point in the season. First-year head coach Klint Kubiak seems willing to be smart and take his time with Mendoza, which is smart and very against type for the Raiders. Las Vegas has plenty of other fun players to keep an eye on, including Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty and Maxx Crosby (maybe).
Kirk Cousins and Stafford could still be fun, yet sometimes you want to watch the young gun sling it against the veteran.
7.) vs. Cowboys (Week 15)
If there weren’t more marquee games on L.A.’s schedule, Rams-Cowboys would be near the top.
This has all the makings of a potential shootout, especially if Dallas cannot get its act together on defense, despite solid additions to the unit this offseason. Something had to change in Jerry World, as the offense and defense were largely polar opposites of each other in 2025.
Rams-Cowboys will still be fun, but there are other games on the upcoming slate that deserve more hoopla.
6.) vs. Packers (Week 12)
Rams-Packers on Thanksgiving Eve? Say less!
Green Bay has had Sean McVay’s number under Matt LaFleur. Under LaFleur, the Packers have gone 5-0 against McVay’s Rams, including the playoffs. This is the best year for Los Angeles to change its fortunes against the cheeseheads.
The only reason this game falls outside the top five is due to Micah Parsons’ health. He is expected to miss much of the early half of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in December. Hopefully, he’ll return in time, because it’ll be a blast to see him and Myles Garrett give a pass rushing masterclass.
Talk about a fun appetizer to Thanksgiving.
5.) at Eagles (Week 4)
Do I need to explain this one?
Philly has been a thorn in the Rams’ side under Nick Sirianni, going 0-4 against the Eagles coach with Jalen Hurts under center.
Between giving up 26 unanswered points to lose in Week 3 last season and falling just short in the 2024 Divisional Round, this game truly cannot come soon enough. It’s redemption time.
4.) vs. Chargers (Week 8)
Let the Battle for L.A. commence!
The Chargers are a dark-horse AFC contender who will be hell-bent to prove to the Rams that they aren’t the little brother, even if the room’s not theirs. Jim Harbaugh has gotten the other Los Angeles team off to a solid start in his tenure. The only thing left for them to prove is that they can get over the hump and win a playoff game.
They have the talent to do so, and it could be enough to get them to play at SoFi Stadium in February.
3.) vs. Chiefs (Week 13)
Praise the football gods, this one is later in the season, since Patrick Mahomes will likely be back on the field way before Week 13.
The Rams and Chiefs have faced each other twice since 2018, splitting the series. Kansas City isn’t the sexiest pick following their first losing season under Andy Reid and parting ways with several key veterans — thank you again for Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson! Either way, they remain the class of the AFC, one-year hiatus or not.
This won’t be the classic 54-51 shootout from years ago, yet fans can still enjoy it for what it’ll be: a matchup between two of the NFL’s most successful teams of the last decade.
2.) at Broncos (Week 3)
Denver and Los Angeles nearly met in the Super Bowl in February, and it could happen again this season.
The Broncos are one of the most complete teams in the NFL and are led by an all-timer in Sean Payton. They got even better after trading for Jaylen Waddle during the Dolphins’ fire sale. Waddle provides depth for a receiving core that sorely needed it.
Bo Nix certainly helped Broncos Country move on from Russell Wilson, and his 24 wins since getting drafted in 2024 are two ahead of Stafford.
Broncos Country, let’s … not give you PTSD. Instead, let’s appreciate how fun this one will be.
1.) vs. Bills (Week 5)
You already knew this one had to be at the top.
Watching the last two MVPs going at it will be a treat, especially considering how thrilling their last matchup in 2024 was.
This could very well be a Super Bowl preview. The only complaint is that this game should be later in the season when both teams are deep in the fight for playoff seeding. Although that’s not going to stop anyone from getting the popcorn ready … perhaps with a side of buffalo wings.
